Govt doctors in Rajasthan on strike

Jaipur: Demanding a hike in salaries and
time-bound promotions, government doctors in parts of Rajasthan Wednesday went on an indefinite strike.

Accusing the state government of ignoring their
long-pending demands, the doctors had threatened to go on an
indefinite strike ten days back if their issues were not
addressed.

Hospital officials, however, said the initial impact of
the strike is not much as additional arrangements have been
made at the Sawai Man Singh hospital, the biggest government
hospital of the state.

"Medical services are not affected here as we made
additional arrangements. All resident doctors are on duty and we are ensuring that services are not crippled in the hospital," Dr L C Sharma, Superintendent of SMS government hospital said.
The state government late last night declared the
services of medical and health departments as most essential
services but doctors went on strike despite that.

Hike in salary and pay parity with doctors in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and other states and time-bound promotions are among the demands the doctors have made for the past few months.
Almost 9,000 in-service doctors, according to the
association, are posted at all primary health centres,
dispensaries and hospitals across the state and the strike is
likely to hit medical services badly if it continues.